Kingdom of Conquerors (2013) Movie Script

"It is not sufficient that I succeed: all others must fail" --Genghis Khan-- In the 1200's arose a man so feared for his ruthlessness and cunning that he was able to emerge as the greatest empire builder ever known to mankind, Genghis Khan - revered as the founder of the Mongol Empire. Making history from the saddle of his unstoppable steed, Genghis Khan and his formidable horsemen became known both for their unrelenting strategic skills as well as the wholesale massacres of any civilian populations that stand in their way. In his lifetime he set his people on a path that eventually saw them controlling large portions of present day China, Russia, Central Asia, the Middle East and Eastern Europa. But by 1219 as he led his Mongol forces the West once more to do battle he faced an enemy that he could not defeat; a growing fear if his own mortality. KINGDOM OF CONQUERORS Grandpa, are we at the city where the sun sets? No, it's still far. When we get there, I'll be all grown up. That's right. Every Mongolian grows up on the road. We keep moving as long as we're alive, right up until we die. What does "die" mean? "Die" is when you stop moving. Grandpa, why do we keep going in this direction? Because that's where our enemies are. Don't stop! They killed our trade envoys and now the Creator wants us to punish them for their arrogance and their foolishness. When I grow up, I'm going to fight your enemies, Grandpa. You must chase down your enemies and tear down their city walls so that grass can grow in its place, and so that your horses can run free. Naya, open your eyes! Look at me, Naya! Great Khan, you should stay back. Beware of the plague. Naya? The Western Campaign army was ravaged by plague. When Kheshig Commander Naya succumbed to the disease, the Great Khan began to fear his own death. Great Khan, here is your plague medicine. So long as my enemies are alive, I will not die. Great Khan, Yelv Chucai asked me to tell you the baby may be infected with the plague. It must be kept away from your queen. No! This child arrived at the wrong time. His cries weaken my heart. Go find him a good family. With the blessings of heaven, he will survive and will someday become a great man. My queen. Long Beard. Do I... look old to you? I may be old, but even so, I still have a long way to go. Nothing could stop the Great Khan's advance to the west. Should plague and pestilence be an obstacle? Great Khan's royal bodyguard Naya died because of plague. I was ordered to take up his saber? And seek out the great Taoist monk, the Sage of Eternal Spring, Qiu Chuji. The Sage Qiu has a world reputation, and everyone knows him in the eastern plains. I hope to persuade him to allay the Great Khan's fear of death. We traveled day and night toward the rising sun. 13 horses died of fatigue under me. And after three seasons passed, I finally saw the legendary ocean. Who comes? Special envoy for Genghis Khan, Liu Zhonglu. I come to present an invitation from the Great Khan to Master Qiu, to instruct him in the Way. Where is the Great Khan? The Great Khan is traveling west and is now campaigning in Khwarezmia. My master is advanced in age and cannot travel. We must decline. Halt! Give the plants very little. Save the water - for the people down the mountain. - Move it! - Move! - Take me to Qiu Chuji. Wait. I am Qiu Chuji. You can let him go. Listen, old man, I am looking for the Sage of Eternal Spring, Qiu Chuji. And I am the Sage of Eternal Spring, Qiu Chuji. I am sorry, Master. My apologies. "I inquire after Master Qiu, you who are the embodiment of the Way, and in harmony with all in and under heaven, whose wisdom exceeds the knowable, whose conduct his name bears high, who has meditated long in the valleys hidden in the shadows. I have therefore dispatched General Liu with an escort and chariots to request that you delay your quest for immortality? And make the instruction of myself? In the Way your foremost task, as this offends neither righteousness, your station, or proper governance. By order of Genghis Khan." The honor that has been bestowed upon me by the Great Khan is far greater and nobler than an old man like myself deserves. Master, when will you be ready to depart? I will ready your escort. Whether I go or not depends upon heaven's will. Master, fool that I am, I request clarification. Wendeng suffers from the worst drought in a century. I must pray for rain here. When heaven takes pity on the people of Wendeng and grants them rain, then I will follow you and your men west, without delay or protest. Master, you know that the Great Khan's edicts must be obeyed. You've crossed mountains and rivers, your journey was long. You must get some rest. Master? Master. Master! Master! An emissary from the Jin Empire requests your presence at their capital. And a Song ambassador requests your guidance in Luoyang. They come with full honors. Tell them that right now our crops are dying at the hands of a severe drought, and unless they can provide me with a rushing river, I will not see any one of them. Great Khan, your feet are cold today. I am very old. My blood does not flow well. Hoelun, these last few days I have been dreaming about nothing but death. I feel that I am really growing old. Great Khan, you are not old. You will never, ever get old. You have been traveling for so long. You are tired. That is all. No matter how long the road is, I cannot stop. Hoelun... with you by my side, I will never be an old man. The Great Khan's wife was the only one who could understand him. And she would be with him all the way to the end of his endless journey. The Great Khan said this was her fate. Move! Move! What are you doing? Look up. If heaven won't grant us rain, don't blame my master for staying. The only heaven or god I recognize is Genghis Khan, and his orders are law. Take me west with you instead. Anything the Great Khan wants to know I too am able to provide. The Khan wants one man, and that's Master Qiu. The drought will kill us whether he goes with you or not, mm save m; trouble and massacre He's right! Kill every one of us! Yes, kill us all! If you dare anger the Great Khan, that is exactly what will happen! That's enough! Great Khan, I come to you with strange tidings. In the dawn hours, there appeared an unusual beast and it offered some guidance. It said we should turn back east. Long Beard. did you see it? I did not. Your groom Batu saw it with his own eyes, as well as your night guard Hadahei. They did not dare tell you of it directly, sir, so they confided in me. And do you believe it? They claim to have seen it with their own eyes and I did not dare disbelieve them. Very well, have them tell me themselves. Yes. You may enter. Great Khan, my hands have only ever held the minister's pen. I do not have the heart to whip these men. Have mercy, your majesty! The Khan had them whisper into his left and right ears, describing what they saw. What they described of course was different. Great Khan, if anyone must be whipped, then let that person be me. I asked them to lie to you because I felt I had no other choice. The plague ravages us and the soldiers miss home. The Great Khan despises nothing more than liars. The Great Khan despises nothing more than a liar. On that day I recommended you to the Great Khan and he forgave both of them at once. He ordered Yelv Chucai to compose an edict? And gave me his chariot to bring you back. You are asking for the last of my years. Master, stay back! I've heard the legends of you being 300 years old. You truly are a sage. I have lived on Mount Kunyu for so long? With the wolves and the tigers that we have reached an understanding, and we leave each other alone now. Nothing miraculous. I must ask again, when will you be ready to depart? Let us finish drinking this first. Master, if you don't go, my life is over. The Great Khan's will is undeniable. And the blood in my veins, it flows only for him. Respect for the Way is virtue. The Way creates all things and shapes all things with virtue. The Way is separable and inseparable. It has no beginning and no end, Es and through ma, Do not be sad. You should be happy for me. My trip to the west is for virtue and to spread the Way. Laozi went west at 70. I follow his example. Master, please take us with you! I have a long journey ahead of me and I might not make it to the end. Even if I do, I might not make it there alive. I am old and you are all young. Stay here and watch over Mount Kunyu. You must find your path in the Way. Please go back. Take care. Please go back. Let's go. Obstructing the Great Khan's carriage is a crime. Move aside now! Move! Master? Master! Master. And this coffin? Who is it for? The journey ahead is a long one, Master. If you don't complete the journey within a year, then the coffin is for you. And it's for me if you won't let your disciple follow you. It's a shame. You two, knock it off. Get some rest! Your bidding is our duty, Master Qiu! Welcome guests. Please enter! Your bidding is our duty, Master Qiu! Greetings. - Hey, You! - Yes? How did you know Qiu Chuji was with us? - Well-- - Because I told him. You, go and prepare a footbath for our guest. Yes, ma'am. I hear about who's coming for 100 Ii in every direction, and a month ago some travelers told me that Genghis Khan wanted to see Qiu Chuji. And he has to pass through Fox Canyon. I will tie up the horses in the back. I will bring food and water out for them. Master, you're here. This way, please. Hey. Who are these people? - How should I know? - Bring those over here! Huh? Didn't you just stay-- Everyone who comes in is a guest, no matter who they are. We are almost finished here. You can go inside now. If I am not afraid of a big man like you, what're you afraid of? What are you doing here? Keeping you company. Those of the Way see beyond worldly desires. The Master could tell that you've been through hardships. If you need something, just ask. Bring me. I want to go with you. With heaven as my witness, forgive me. Where do you want to go? Genghis Khan's camp... to look for my husband. I heard Qiu Chuji was invited to visit Genghis Khan, so I've been waiting for him. The Master doesn't travel with women, but I can deliver a message for you. My husband sent me a letter last year... saying he wants to see me. Bandits! Bandits! You five, come over here! We must kill them all! Hurry! Wait! Old man, was that the Flying Wind Fist that I just witnessed? I was afraid you'd hurt her, so I prevented you, nothing more. Hardly worth mentioning. Have you ever visited Mount Kunyu by the eastern ocean? I have lived there for 46 years. And you know Sage Danyang? Do you mean Ma Danyang the Jade Sage? - Huh. - We shared the same master. Master Ma comes from the same village as me. Circumstances forced me into this work. This woman's grace and her noble beauty made me want to marry her. I had no intention of harming her, I swear! I have long heard of the legendary abilities of the Sage of Eternal Spring, and I have no greater honor than witnessing them today. You are not mistaken. I am the Sage of Eternal Spring. I am Qiu Chuji. All who pass here know of your virtue and your skill in the Way. - Master, accept my bow. - No need for that. Letting them go is enough for me. Release them at once! Master, I need your help. Take pity on me and take me with you on your journey west. I will serve you along the way. I will do anything. I will do whatever I can. Imitating a craftsman will get you killed. I haven't done this for a long time. My hand hasn't healed yet. You may have him make it again. You don't like it? Great Khan, I like whatever you like, but it's a little loose. My Hoelun, you are thinner. I like seeing your face round and full of life. I like seeing you in the world's finest clothes, riding in the world's most beautiful carriage. So tell me, what do you want? If I can follow you, Great Khan, then I have no other desires. But I miss the scent of the flowers of our homeland... our prairie flowers. Step by dragging step, through snow, sleet, rain, and sun, Chuji Qiu asked me to tell him about the Great Khan along the way. He wanted to know anything that I would tell him about Genghis Khan, except for stories of war and stories of death. Who do I hear crying? Master, I'm afraid the weather is making you imagine things. I heard sobbing coming from that direction. Your armies slaughtered them. It was heaven weeping. Go and tell your men to bury all these bodies. I want to see them put to rest with my own two eyes. Impossible. 'momma mix-awn It is easier to bury a man than to kill him. Master. Those of the Way may leave no body unburied. I will sit here with you... and watch every corpse be placed underground. Or else... I refuse to go any further. Where is the Sage of Eternal Spring? Well, Great Khan, Qiu Chuji has reached the Mongolian plains. If we continue heading west, then I am afraid six months from now, he will be unable to catch up with us. Send an escort to meet him. Just now my body felt as light as a feather. It was like I was floating in absolute stillness. I didn't think I would still be here when I opened my eyes. Heaven can't bear to lose you, Master. If heaven is keeping me here, it has something for me to do. And what frightens me is that I might not have the strength or the will left for it, that I will disappoint heaven. Master, I'll value your guidance as long as you can give it. How long have we been traveling? Over a year, I believe. Mmm. Tell me. If I were to die along the way, would you continue west without me? Yes. I knew you would. Next board. This one is very good. On the count of three! Next board! The Great Khan had this silversmith make a belt with the world's finest jewels. Please try it on. You said you were a silversmith? I am a silversmith, but my hand was wounded and I-- You are the one who cut your own finger off. - You possess no skills at all! - imposter. You're a prisoner now. Move! Go! Keep going. We have to seek cover! Come on! Don't stop moving, seek cover! Someone protect the Master. Keep moving, follow me. Stop here! Attack! Go! Kill them! Wait. I only brought one coffin with me. It can't hold this many bodies. Master, you saw it. They wanted to kill us. I did not want them dead. If we release them, they'll follow us to get revenge. If we take this many prisoners with us, we'll run out of food before we even get there. If you kill them, you create more thirst for revenge. We mortals die. Our grudges do not. They stay in the blood, passed down through generations. To carry out the Great Khan's orders, it must be done. Kill them! You kill... because you are afraid. I fear nothing. Fear is fear, you see. And there's no disguising it. Behind the mask of vengeance, there is nothing but fear. And nothing offends heaven more... than baseless fear. Your mission from the Great Khan was not murder. If you let them go, your mission will have heaven's blessing. Otherwise... I will not let you finish your mission. Look. No, wait. I am a man now. If you spare my life, take me with you. If not, then kill me. Silk, beautiful silk! When Genghis Khan was trapped at Banzhu River, he asked me for help. I gave him every beast in my possession to feed him and his men. On that day, Genghis Khan promised me that I would have my own city one day, eh? The Great Khan keeps his word. Huh? Look around you! May I ask, do you know where Genghis Khan is currently? The invincible Great Khan has conquered Samarkand and is proceeding west. My, you've quite a stomach for alcohol. Why is it that I feel alone even when I am with you? You despise me. I do not want you to catch the plague and leave me. I want you with me until we reach the cities where the sun sets. Great Khan, there is an urgent letter from Qiu Chuji. Otrar trembles at the Great Khan's might. They have agreed to surrender. The plague continues to ravage us. Our casualties have been heavy. I think we should stay here to rest? And gather our strength. And where is Master Qiu Chuji now? He has arrived at Cinghai's city with the escort, and says he wishes to go no further. He requests that you travel there to meet him instead. Long Beard... write that I won't meet him there but will wait here for him. After receiving the second edict from the Great Khan, it took much persuasion to convince the Master to leave. Starving refugees lined the road across the snowy mountains ahead of us. The master bore his own hunger, but he fed them with our supplies, and soon it seemed that our grain supply would be gone. Don't give them any more! How will we make it without food? We're going over the mountain! I won't watch them die and do nothing. Master! Master! Master. Please eat this. He refused to eat anything and he wouldn't even look at our jerky. He said he could smell the blood on the grain our soldiers brought him. He said he would sooner die than eat it. When I saw him collapse on the road, my hope gave out. - Master! Master! - Master! Master, wake up! Make him eat. I want him to live! You're the reason he's dying. You and your Great Khan can go to hell! - How dare you? - No, stop it! If you want your master to live, then follow me. Here it is. A snow lotus. A snow lotus! I know these! This is a mountain snow lotus. It's edible and you can use it to make a decongestant. I have lost too much blood. I am beyond help now. Do not waste your strength. Please do something for me. Genghis Khan wants to see my master for these legendary pills that grant immortality. The pills are-- they are in... the pills are in... Master, try not to be sad. I'll have my men take his coffin home... back to Mount Kunyu for burial. He has already attained immortality. We can bury his body right here. Your reputation precedes you. Today we finally meet. Master, at your advanced age, the journey must have been extremely long and arduous. I admire your courage in traveling to our camp. I've heard much about you, Lord Yelv. A journey that is pleasant and speedy is a rare thing. The Great Khan is anxious to finally meet you. He's been waiting in his tent for some time. Master, this way, please. The master of the Way arrives! The master of the Way arrives! The master of the Way arrives! The master of the Way arrives! Master Qiu now attends the Great Khan! He will receive no other visitors! No visitors, please. Master. Please kneel. Great Khan, please forgive any breach of protocol. I have long admired you, but my principles guide me. Those of the Way kneel only before heaven. All right, bring out the meat and wine for the sage. With wishes of fortune and health for all, the Creator of the Blue Sky's bounty is presented! Partake and enjoy all that you wish. Enjoy this fresh grilled goat, partake and enjoy. Partake and enjoy all that you wish. For the Great Khan blesses you with the bounty of his empire! Hurray! Hurray! Hurray! I thank the Great Khan... for his-- for his great generosity. But those of the Way consume no flesh. I have heard that you are 300 years old and know all under heaven that is knowable. Therefore I will call you "Saint." No, please. That's too grand a title. When I left Wendeng, I was 72. Now I am 74. I'd-- I'd like to ask the Saint if he brought the immortality pills? I have only the Way to extend life. There are no immortality pills. I-- I must have heard him wrong. I dare not interpret! You heard right. The Saint's eyes tell me everything I need to know. He said that there never was any immortality medicine. The Master said that-- that he only has the Way to preserve life - and that he has no-- - Hmm. No one expected to hear such an answer from Qiu Chuji. There is nothing in this world more terrifying than the Great Khan's silence. I followed close at his heels, the wind blowing the leaves like razors across my face. Why didn't you give him the immortality pills? He'll have your head for this! Th row them away. Untie them! Untie them! Release them! Master! The Great Khan says you are an honest man, a living saint! The Great Khan orders... that a tent be set up for the saint next to his own! He declares he will receive the saint's instruction in the Way! Great Khan, you come from... a land of plentiful sunlight and little water. You are not in the habit of bathing. You killed and conquered... without even the time to clean yourselves. This is unhealthy. On the way here, I saw many bodies unburied and rotting. As such, plague is bound to develop. How do you recommend we stop it? Have your soldiers bathe and wash their clothes. Water purifies all things. I suggest this. Distribute these herbs to you men. In five days, the plague will begin to recede. Water is a divine gift from the Creator... to the Mongolian people... that sustains and nourishes all life. It must be treated with respect. Yes, you speak the truth. Great Khan, water is a gift from heaven. It is a gift that sustains and nourishes us. It is the softest and gentlest substance that exists. Water washes away stains. It washes away illness and pestilence. The highest virtue imitates water. All know... how you treasure the lives of your soldiers, so your virtue certainly must afford water its own. Tell me, Saint, is this how your Way preserves life? And sanitation, Great Khan. We lose nothing by trying. I suspected that you would not have any immortality potions. If immortality medicine did exist, I would've already sipped tea made from it with Qun Shi Huang and Emperor Han Wu. But if you know it is not real, then why did you travel so far to see me? I could not turn down your invitation. And if I remember correctly, nothing in your invitation, Great Khan, mentioned immortality potion. Long Beard, is that true? I wrote it as instructed, so yes, it's true. I have also heard that you were invited to pay a visit to the Jin and Song courts by their kings. They cared only whether they lived or died. They showed no concern for their people. This violates the Way, so heaven forbade me. How do you know the will of heaven? If one respects heaven, one never, not even for a moment, forgets one's awe of it. The King of Heaven holds me up and sends me signs to tell me what should and should not be done. I was invited here by you because heaven has a task for me, no matter how far I would come. Prepare the needle. Even if you treat me, they will kill me. Why do you waste your time? Because life... is like the blooming and the withering of a flower. It can disappear at any moment. Even if you die tomorrow, I can lessen your pain today. That much I can do. Why did you save me?! Would you rather see me die in their suicide squads? I don't want to live! Let me die! Reclaim your heart from the child. Tomorrow I will take you hunting. I know how much you enjoy that. After half a year, Qiu Chuji had established himself and was entirely at home in the camp. He often spoke of everything in the world having life and a soul. He even spoke of his walking stick this way. And one day, I went hunting with the Great Khan and told him the Master's words. I was told that you predicted today's eclipse. Ah, and yet my knowledge of astronomy is humbled by that of Yelv Chucai. You truly are a saint. I meant no jest, Great Khan. We Mongolians grow up on the backs of horses. We couldn't be thrown in our sleep. What happened today was very unusual. But what's even more strange is that a scared animal normally takes a man's life. That boar came right up to me, but it didn't even touch me. The King of Heaven protected you in that forest. He did not allow the boar to harm you. - Why would he do that for me? - Not hurting or killing... is the nature of all things. And heaven wanted to tell you, Great Khan... that by taking fewer lives, you can extend your own life. And you've come all this way just to tell me that? Heaven rejoices... In mercy. But heaven? Heaven despises death. Great Khan, if you obey the will of heaven, heaven will certainly reward you. And you're speaking of Tengri the Blue Sky? Exactly. I'm speaking of the same heaven that Tengri inhabits. I believe what you are saying. And yet I have my share of enemies and they must be punished. There. No bones were broken. You should be back to walking normally within three days. I named you Saint because you are indeed a saint. You extend heaven's gift of life, and you cure me of all my injuries. How should I thank you? Stop killing. I'm going to get you out. They put me in their shaer army. They make them charge headlong into city walls. They get to live if-- if we survive. They're beheaded if they retreat. I'm a prisoner and I'm going to die. But it's enough that I see you one last time. I'm going to avenge your death. I will die with you. Otrar agrees to surrender, but the treasure and livestock that they promised to send has not arrived. Some think they agreed to surrender to buy time to recruit more men to fight you, Father. Stop delaying. Allow us to attack the city. We've only just seen an improvement in the plague and the soldiers are very homesick. Attacking Otrar now may be... It may be overly hasty. Wipe Otrar off the face of the earth. Prepare for battle! Prepare for battle! Son! Son! Answer me! Son! Oh, son. Doctor! Get the doctor over here! Doctor! - Son. - Doctor, get the doctor! The Great Khan won't eat or drink and hasn't emerged for one day and night. No one may disturb him. Do not worry. I won't go in. I'm here to say goodbye. I didn't bring any immortality pills. I traveled 39,000 Ii to see the Great Khan. All for nothing. So I should go. I am such a fool. At 19, I began learning from Wang Chongyang and spent 19 bitter years attaining enlightenment. And now... I'm 74, an old useless man. I'm a disappointment to the Great Khan. We mortals have short lives... to walk long paths. And we can demand nothing at all. Before I left, I cast my fortunes and... I saw I had less than 300 days to live. The truth, Great Khan, is that I did not know if I would finish the journey alive. I did not know if I would get to meet you. My apprentice, he made a coffin that was meant for me. And he died on the way... saving my life. He was my best student. And he did not want me to come... but he couldn't stop me and I couldn't stop myself. Because day after day, day after day, I felt like there was... a force pushing me to come here. I believed that force was... heaven keeping me alive... and bringing me to meet you. But the mercy of heaven was wasted on me. And if I cannot convince the Great Khan to stop killing, what is one more life saved but good fortune? And things under heaven live and die. And the Way, it is everlasting. It carries men's hearts. Great Khan! Your Eternal creator Tengri and my Lord of Heaven are one and the same! Both of them treasure life and they abhor death! General Liu, we've traveled a long way together. You-- you understand my words. Give the Great Khan a message for me. Tell your Great Khan that I understand the pain and rage that dwell inside his heart. It is a shame I am too old and useless to help him. I was not able to live up to heaven's mercy. Great Khan, you are also unable to fall sleep? Do you miss your horse? Do you remember when the black horse you loved ran away and never came back? I thought you would blame me for not tying it properly. But it actually chewed through its reins. It was heading east and I did not want to go back to look for it. I imagine it's already back on the plains by now. When I left with you, many of us hadn't grown up yet. We were still basically children. Now I have a beard. It's time for me to marry and have a son. Tonight with the wind blowing to the east, the horses should be sleeping with their heads facing west. But today they're all sleeping... with their heads... facing the east horizon. Even our animals miss home. Master! Master, you can't leave! Master! Master, you can't leave! Master. Master, you can't leave. Master, please, you cannot leave, sir. Heaven wants me to. But... the Great Khan ordered me not to let you go. Master, you are over 70 and you crossed countless rivers and mountains to see the Great Khan. This is something no one has ever done before. The Great Khan knows it and appreciates the kindness you've shown. And Master, the Way you speak of-- it is really common sense, like water drops on stone. The Great Khan is moved by your words. I have followed him for many years now, and I understand his wisdom. I understand his respect for heaven. It's absolute. I know, Master, that with only a few more words, we can change history. The Great Khan decrees cease all killing at once! The Great Khan decrees cease all killing at once! The Great Khan decrees cease all killing at once! The Great Khan decrees cease all killing at once! The Great Khan decrees cease all killing at once! Wait for me. Stop! Get him! Stop. That's enough for now. The Great Khan will arrive soon. Prepare wine. Yes. Stop right there. Come back here! Stop! - Come back here! - Master! I said stop! Come back here! If you can, dissolve these in alcohol. There is no taste or smell. The drinker goes to sleep forever. Great Khan, there is poison in the wine. Who is this woman? These are the Great Khan's immortality pills. I followed Qiu Chuji here. His disciple Zhao Dao'an gave them to me. They are poison. These will kill you. I hope that when Genghis Khan is dead, the killing-- the killing will stop. No, my child, don't! Great Khan, it is poisoned. - Why would she want to poison me? - Great Khan! Please have mercy and forgive my wife! She doesn't know I'm still alive! Great Khan, she did not hear your order to stop the killing. If this is an immortality pill, how could it be poison? Saint, if I drink this, I will live forever, will I not? Great Khan, if you don't believe me, then allow me to drink it for you. And after I am dead, take pity... on everyone in the world who suffers, Great Khan. I can go no further, Great Khan. We've come too far? In search of the city where the sun sets. You may return my body to the plains of our home. Saint, take the years that I have sacrificed and give them to the Great Khan. Great Khan, you obeyed the will of heaven in ordering an end to killing, and this man came to you to express his gratitude. You are not allowed to die! I will not let you die. Father! Your wife is dead! We must avenge her blood with his blood! This demon brings nothing but ill fortune! Seize him! Chagatai, what are you doing? All of you, out of my way! You dare disobey me? The Great Khan decreed an end to killing! You would dare violate the Great Khan's ordinance? Great Khan, fear not. I will do my best to cure them. Heaven heard your command to put an end to killing and will take pity on you and on your wife, Great Khan. The dead don't come back to life. Great Khan, if you believe, anything at all is possible-- stones can grow flowers, walking sticks can sprout leaves and the dead can live again. Father, rescind your order not to kill and let us show everyone how mighty the Great Khan is! Great Khan, if you give up killing, you and your consort will receive the blessing of heaven. When this stick sprouts leaves, your wife will awaken. We Mongolians have always hunted to feed ourselves. How can we possibly not kill? How can we not kill? My heart, it bleeds at these words. Father, rescind you order. Allow me to flatten their city and avenge your grandson's death. We must not allow the world to make a fool out of you, father! Great Khan. Great Khan! Great Khan! I heard the Creator's voice calling out. He told me that I should return to you. Allow me to drink it for you, and after I am dead, Great Khan, take pity on everyone in the world who suffers. Great Khan! Your Eternal Creator Tengri and my Lord of Heaven are one and the same! Stop killing. Stop killing. Stop killing. Convey the Great Khan's order! Stow your gear. We are returning east! Convey the Great Khan's order! We are returning east! Convey the Great Khan's order! We are returning east! Convey the Great Khan's order! We are returning east! By the mercy of Tengri, Genghis Khan's son survived his infection. I brought him back and I returned him to my queen. The Great Khan invited the Saint to go east with him, back to the plains. But... Master! Where are you? Master! Master! Master, where are you? In days past, my tree flowered red. No mortal is poor in birth or in death. The century of my flourishing and decay is now nothing more than a passing dream. His walking stick remained where he placed it, growing roots and spreading leaves. And it is said that, after many years passed, it grew into a towering tree. Genghis Khan's transformation into a pacifist did not last long. Within a few years, the war re-started and the killing resumed. Genghis Khan remained a warrior and an empire builder until his death which occurred in 1227 during a western compaign when he was 66 years old. After the death of the Great Khan his successors carried on the battle in his name pushing the Mongol Empire over further West into what is now modern day Iran, Russia and Eastern Europe. To the East they did battle with China's Song Dynasty where eventually Genghis Khan's grandson, the Mongol Emperor Kublai Khan became the supreme ruler of China, founding the Yuan Dynasty in 1279. --Born3o--